Kumho Tyres has been chosen by leading Australian car maker Holden to provide a quality tyre to meet the needs of unique local roads for its new medium sized passenger car, the Malibu.

The Holden Malibu CD comes fitted with 17 inch Kumho Ecsta HM KH31s to provide the ideal balance between performance, handling and comfort for the newest Holden release.

The KH31 is part of Kumho's luxury performance range and according to David Basha, national training and marketing manager at Kumho Tyre Australia, is a perfect choice for the Holden Malibu.

"The Ecsta HM KH31 is specifically designed for medium sized passenger vehicles like the Holden Malibu," said David Basha.

"Kumho has ensured the KH31 meets the needs of users of medium family cars who need a tyre to cope with the daily commute as well as short trips to the shops or the school run along with the longer journeys on family holidays covering highways and country roads."

Factors such as the crown of the road can cause a car to pull to the left but a tyre specifically designed for right hand drive cars like the Kumho KH31 can help offset this effect.

"The KH31 was designed and constructed for right hand drive markets where motorists drive on the left hand side of the road and has proven to be a good all round tyre in other global markets as well as winning a Good Design award," David Basha said.

Independent testing by one of Germany's leading automotive publications, Auto Zeitung, has given the KH31 a high recommendation while and two of Europe's largest automotive clubs, Austria's OAMTC and Germany's ADAC Motorwelt have both recommended the tyre to their combined membership base of more than 16 million motorists.

Kumho's silica compound gives the KH31 the grip of a sports tyre while providing a smooth, comfortable and quiet ride around town and on the open road.

The silica compound also gives the KH31 great handing qualities in the wet and aids in reducing the chances of aqua planning.

Four wide and deep circumferential grooves ensure the Ecsta HM maintains optimum contact with the road in even the wettest of conditions and the asymmetrical tread directs water to the outside of the tyre so handling isn't compromised.

The tread design also features multi-pitched blocks to reduce road noise so the ride is not just a comfortable one but a quiet one too.

According to Holden specialist vehicle dynamics engineer Michael Barber tyres are a key component of a car's handing and comfort.

"Getting good tyres onto any car is an important fundamental to delivering a great drive," Michael Barber said.

Kumho is also original equipment on the Holden Cruze with a specially engineered reverse belt Solus KH17.

"Kumho is original equipment on one of Australia's best-selling small cars and for Holden to again call on Kumho for its medium sized car is further proof of the trust Holden has in the Kumho brand," David Basha added.

Since its inception in 1960, Kumho Tyres has been a model of steady growth amid dramatic changes of business landscape. Driven by innovation in management and technical development Kumho has become one of the top ten tyre companies in the world.

Over the past half-century Kumho Tyres has built the foundation for a sustainable company, which has thrived through a full range of business environments.

Kumho has succeeded in the development of superior tyres for all vehicles including high performance passenger cars, sports utilities and 4x4s as well as trucks, buses, mining and even aircraft.

Kumho produces more than 68 million tyres annually with a massive research and development program which comprises more than 600 research personnel and 300 testing machines at proving grounds in South Korea, China, Europe and North America. Kumho leads the world with the latest in tyre technology, safety and performance.

In Australia Kumho markets an extensive range of tyres for cars, 4WDs, light commercials, trucks and buses with a network centred around five state locations with the ability to distribute tyres to retailers across all areas of Australia.

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